Duchin Productions | Beverly, MA

Video shoot with The DV Show

Admin — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 00:11:47 +0000

This video shoot was for long time friend Brian Alves, founder of The DV Show. He was hired by Beverly Iker to produce an exercise program for symphony orchestras that travel in buses. Location shoots are always tricky but the intense humidity made this particularly challenging. Our 90 year old talent, Bill, was truly amazing. He runs marathons plus never complained once about the intense heat. Unfortunately, fans were not an option since they generate too much noise. The bus company allowed us to start the bus from time to time to briefly cool things down. Jan Simione, make-up artist to the stars… and Rhode Island was busy throughout the day powdering and swabbing down the talent.

One thing I’ve learned over the years of shooting is you can never have enough stands and clamps. Below you’ll notice some non-traditional methods for getting the job done. All in all, it was a pretty good day. We all worked as fast as possible to get off the hot bus and back into our chilly, air conditioned vehicles for our drives home.

Iker Center video shoot with The DV Show

Government Agency Video

Admin — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 20:46:53 +0000

Jay traveled to Washington DC to video tape someone (who must be left a mystery) working with the Department of Defense. The company was Power Steering Software and they rented a sweet in a local hotel because cameras aren’t allowed in most high security Washington buildings.

Most equipment was locally rented which is more convenient and cheaper for the client. Unfortunately some of the equipment was broken but we got by. We utilized our surrounding in many ways, one example was we used the overhead chandelier to hold the back-up microphone instead of a stand. The mystery person was limited on time so efficiency was key in all aspects of the shoot and questioning.

The entire interview took less than 15 minutes but the value of having a government agency do a testimonial outweighed the cost and energy, 100% worth it.

Sometimes Jay uses a pillow as a stand in if there is nobody available. A pillow is a great subject because it never talks back!

if someone is nice enough to give you there time it is always nice to have something to eat or drink to show them your appreciation. It is also important to have water readily available in case the interviewee has a scratchy throat. Cough Cough!

Creatively Crafted by Krissy M

Food Network Video Shoot

Admin — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 19:39:48 +0000

Thomson Communications of Middleton called with a delicious project. Jay Duchin would be filming the owner of Cakes for Occasions, Kelley Delaney, in her natural habitat… a bakery! Cakes for Occasions is a nut-free bakery creating the most delectable gourmet cakes and pastries for all milestones. Duchin has been a fan of Cakes for Occasions for many years (especially because he has a niece who is allergic to nuts) and he was thrilled to have the opportunity of working with them.

It was the first time Duchin had a chance to use a new light made up of 500 small LEDs. The set was very hot and noisy but obviously the biggest distraction was all the bakery treats. He tried a few different fun things to make it interesting like rolling in a tray full of cool goodies in the background.

This top-secret project is currently on the “hush hush” but stay tuned for an exciting announcement.

Thanks to the team at CFO for being so nice and accommodating. What a sweet shoot!

Sue Tabb & Kelley Delaney

Blog creatively crafted by Krissy M

Shooting with Motorcycles

Admin — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:57:56 +0000

My multitasking wheels were really turning at the Whitehorse Press Publishers motorcycle shoot. I had the honor of working with internationally recognized motorcycle expert Ken Condon in filming a companion video for his new book “Riding in the Zone”. “Riding in the Zone” is a book that will help early-intermediate to early-advanced riders learn the physical and mental riding techniques in order to become more confident on their bike. It comes with a wicked awesome supplemental training video that we created in blisteringly hot weather and on a parking lot covered with slippery tar snakes, making it difficult to execute risky maneuvers. I utilized camera angles from ground level and from high above by standing on the roof of my truck. Luckily there was also a complete indoor set-up with a teleprompter which was cool (literally). There was a lot to cover in this one-day shoot but even with all the obstacles we successfully completed a wicked awesome video that included an array of graphics, illustrations, and an elaborate dvd menu.

I was pretty busy that day. No assistant until we got to the dealership.

Ken in full gear (VERY hot day) and Dan looking cool and collective.

Ken and Dan pretending to be busy.

the shop

A very expensive table

Dan Kennedy, owner of Whitehorse Press. Jeanean Condon, Ken Condon

Almost done. Long drive out, two locations, long drive back home. Next time we’ll do this in two days.

Krissy Mercurio, social media pro

Admin — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:26:59 +0000

Krissy Mercurio is really such an amzing asset to my business. Smart, creative and always a smile. She comes in to do a wide array of things from updating my blog posts to brainstorming ideas for videos. She’s one of the best independent contractors out there. If you need help getting your marketing and communications out, give KM a call. I wish I could take credit for all I do but I’m always getting by with a little help from my friends. If you’d like to hire her for your own business, just send me an email and I’ll forward you her info.

Wheaton College Edit

Admin — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:10:21 +0000

Tim Morse (left) of M&M Films edits a DVD project with Tim Cunningham for Wheaton college in the edit suite.

Behind the Scenes

Admin — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:53:38 +0000

Guy Holt hanging 4 bank Kinoflos using Porta-Grid clamps (guy is also the inventor of the Porta-Grid clamp). The low ceiling made this shoot pretty challenging.

Dan Casey setting up the shotgun microphone.

Dan Casey (audio) and Kerry Whalen (teleprompter).

In just under 4 hours we transformed this dirty, disheveled storage room….

….into a successfully working production set!!

Dressing for the camera

Admin — Thu, 07 May 2009 00:30:09 +0000

A few tips, tricks and ideas for making the best of on-camera appearances.

- First and foremost, ask the producer what to wear. It shows you want to look your best and that you want to make things go smoothly.
- Solid colors look best but avoid overly bright hues
- High contrast solid whites and blacks are often difficult to properly shoot. Best to avoid them
- Video cameras have difficulty with bright red and can cause unwanted artifacts. Blues and purples look really great
- Wear comfortable clothing. The audience will see it in your face if you’re not comfortable

Don’t wear clothing with tight patterns or pin stripes. This can cause distracting, dancing, moiré that tends to distract viewers.

Jewelry:
Flashy, shiny jewelry can look great in person but wreak havoc with video. Noisy, clankly bling should also be avoided for obvious reasons.

Glasses:
The issue with glasses is they can easily reflect the light that has been aimed at you. If you wear contacts, bring them. If you must wear glasses try to bring a variety of pairs. One might look considerably better on camera than another.

Sound:
Lapel microphones are often used for video recording. Wearing a jacket will make positioning the mic much easer on the sound engineer plus lets them easily hide the cable.

Women:
If you can, use non-shiney, powder based makeup. Don’t be offended if the producer wants to add some touch up. It’s usually just for reducing bright spots and reflections. Avoid vivid red lipstick or lip gloss and stick with softer tones.

Men:
No pinstripes or herringbone patterns in ties, shirts or suits. A simple blue shirt looks great on camera. If you plan on wearing a tie, bring a variety with you so the producer can select one that looks best on camera.

If you have further question or comments, just send us an email to info@duchinproductions.com

Video tips and tricks

Admin — Mon, 04 May 2009 11:00:44 +0000

Hello friends of Duchin Productions,
I’m planning on using this space to list the tips and tricks I’ve recently been Tweeting about. Hope you find it helpful and please let me know if you have any specific questions you’d like answered.
Thanks,
Jay

- Most hotels now use compact fluorescent bulbs, bring minus green gels to correct or add a 60w tungsten bulbs your kit when you need a background practical
- Pillows work great for pre-lighting without a stand in. http://twitpic.com/469aa
- When shooting video testimonials always have something for the guest to eat/drink. Photo from recent shoot http://twitpic.com/4695r

Small budget tradeshow booths can still have great impact.

Admin — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 13:55:14 +0000

Duchin Productions has been creating video for trade shows for years. In that time, we’ve learned some great cost saving tricks to maximize exhibitor space and exposure regardless of the size of the booth space. One of our clients recently exhibited at a large trade show and despite a modest budget, they were still able to make an impact. We decided to share these tips with everyone:

Skip the 6’ table
Just say no! Instead, opt for a tall cocktail table with bar stools. We suggest this for a number of reasons:
- It allows for better eye contact with attendees and a more intimate setting
- Opens up the booth for better flow to both your staff and visitors
- Makes the experience a bit more personal
- Laptop demos are easier to see and don’t require bending down
- Is more conducive to conversation
- If you want to keep it, then put it near the back of the booth
Flat screen displays
It’s almost always more economical to ship your own flat screen monitor vs. renting one on-site. The cost of a multi-day screen rental combined with set up labor, service fees and taxes can be extremely expensive. If you need a large electronic display, consider purchasing it locally and then either raffling it off as a prize or donating it at the end of the show to a local charity. The P.R. you can get from giving away a flat screen monitor to a needy charity often outweighs the rental fee tax write off.

AV Carts
Rolling carts are so handy for so many reasons. Here’s why:
- They’re very inexpensive to rent, usually about $15/day
- They’re perfect for getting your video displays at eye level
- They make for a great storage space for bags, collateral, give aways etc. on the shelves below
- They almost always come with a pleated black skirt to hide items
- They can be easily branded with company signage
- They’re on wheels allows and move easily
- They’ll make your space look more professional
- Some are made of plastic and can be broken down flat
- In a nutshell, don’t do a show without one!

Power
Never forget to bring plenty of multi outlet power strips. Laptops, phone chargers, etc. take up lots of space electrical space. If you need to get an additional strip from the venue, chances are they will charge you a small fortune. Be sure to bring at least 5 (yes, five) for every show. Also bring 3-5, grounded, extension cords for obvious reasons. You can always make great friends if you have a spare for your booth neighbor! Speaking of neighbors, if the venue wants piles of money for basic booth power, consider contacting the company adjacent to your to discuss sharing/splitting one circuit. We’ve seen venues charge as much as $250/20 amp circuit/per day. And to top it all off, installation was extra!

Signage:
Don’t accept the paper sign above your booth as your company branding. There are so many ways to do this more professionally and affordably. Pop up booths look great but they’re expensive to buy, ship and take up a sizeable footprint. For small budgets, we love banner stands. They’re light weight, fold incredibly small and don’t get create lines on your graphics when packed away. Once you invest in the physical stand/cassette, you can then simply have different graphics produced for future shows. Today’s printing technology can produce really beautiful results.

Hanging signs:
Most trade shows separate small booths with pipe and drape. People can struggle for hours trying to hang and level signs and posters. The simple solution: cheap shower curtain hooks. They allow you to do all your rigging and measuring on the floor which further protects your expensive graphics. Secure the poster to the hooks with thin baling wire instead of traditional fishing line. The metal wire makes leveling MUCH easier and you don’t need to know any fancy knotting techniques. When you’re ready, just drop the hooks over the pole and you done. Making small adjustments is a breeze plus the decorators won’t scream at you for putting pins through their expensive drape.

Other items that can be indespesible at any trade show:
- Multi-tool (like a Leatherman)
- Scissors
- Velcro
- Clear packing tape
- Cash (for tips)
- AMEX
- Laptop cable locks
- Pens and Sharpie markers
- Business cards
- Collateral holders (allows for more table space)
- Shipping labels
- List of contact names and numbers for the trade show management
- Asprin

Of course, the next time you need video or audio support for your company, please call or email and we’ll be happy to give you more ideas.

info@duchinproductions.com
(978) 338-5699